The vision of the State University of Harkat is to become a center for sustainable research and a strategic driver of multi-sectors in Indonesia.

JAKARTA - Sudirman Said (Rector of Harkat Negeri University), William Sabandar (Director of SUSTAINABILITY of Harkat Negeri University) and Satya Tripathi - Secretary General Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet; former UN Assistant Secretary-General were witnessed by practitioners/experts in sustainability to inaugurate the establishment of SUSTAINABILITY, Center of Sustainability Studies which is under the auspices of Harkat Negeri University (UHN) in Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 27.

SUSTAINABILITY is used as a new brand and terminology that brings a new spirit that is expected to be able to answer various sustainability challenges. SUSTAINABILITY, Center of Sustainability Studies is oriented to strengthen the relationship between knowledge and research, with a policy-making process that can accelerate cross-sectoral cooperation on actual implementation.

Sudirman Said in the launch event of SUSTAINABILITY, Center of Sustainability Studies underlined that this institution was formed to answer the issue of 'sustainability' or sustainability. Floods, droughts, forest fires, rising sea levels that threaten life are real crises that call on all parties to participate in answering this challenge.

"Forging iron while it is hot" is a jargon that became a moment why this institution was established. Along with the high spirit of sustainability practitioners, experts, city planners, actors and people who are concerned and willing to contribute their energy, expertise and experience as a real action to answer the challenges for the sustainability of life. Indonesia's target: the target of Net Zero Emissions (NZE) in 2030 and 2060 is the milestone of this institution," explained Sudirman Said.

He assessed that the issue of sustainability is often trapped in the ivory tower narrative that is less able to touch reality, and the gap makes the effort to change not feel impactful on the real life line. For this reason, this institution accommodates experts and professionals with good credentials to work together to run a sustainability program with good governance through leaders or prospective leaders who are ethical.

"Our vision is to make this institution a strategic driver and a knot of integration in handling sustainability programs," said Sudirman.

William Sabandar, who is trusted to be the Director of SUSTAINABILITY, Center of Sustainability Studies, said that this institution is present in the transition period of Indonesian sustainability by bridging the gap from resources and human resources for sustainability. Indonesia lacks the ability to answer sustainability issues.

"This is the paradox of sustainability in Indonesia. We are famous for being very rich in natural assets - forests, mangroves, oceans, biodiversity, critical minerals, renewable energy potential - but we still lack the most determining resource: human expertise. Answering this gap, this institution is present with a focus on leadership formation, policy competence, and actions that really work," explained William.

To achieve this optimistic target, William underlined 3 main pillars.

1) Leadership — "The singer, not the song" is that the sustainability leader must have a heart for values and integrity; a head for analytical acumen and a hand for working and executing programs.

2) Policy — "DNA of sustainability": Clear market standards, smart incentives. strict transparency and reporting obligations and credible enforcement of compliance.

3) Real actions that are able to bridge activism and investment.

The panel discussion today featured speakers who elaborated on various knowledge and experiences related to sustainability such as: Nirarta Samadhi (Country Director World Resources Institute Indonesia), Agus P. Sari (CEO Landscape Indonesia), Atika Rahmania (Head of Bappeda DKI Jakarta Provincial Government), M. Syahrial (President Director of PT Tamaris Hydro), Marco Kusumawijaya (Center for Coastal Urban Studies - UHN), Amin Subekti (management practitioner) and Andhyta F. Utami (CEO, Think Policy).

SUSTAINABILITY, Center of Sustainability Studies is under the auspices of Harkat Negeri University, Tegal, a university in a city/district with a global setting that has collaborated and will continue to collaborate with educational and research institutions from abroad. Tegal is a living lab for all handling and actions of sustainability programs that can be used as a pattern of intervention for other cities.

"SUSTAINABILITY, the Center of Sustainability Studies will then be prepared to become a school of sustainability, which is expected to play a greater role in answering the challenges of sustainability both on a national and global scale, by opening ourselves up to all forms of collaboration: research, policy making, leadership programs and training up to job creation, with various institutions that focus on sustainability," concluded Sudirman Said as Rector of the State University of Harkat, Tegal.